revenue

Several months ago, we wrote you about "TBD Colorado" – Gov. John Hickenlooper's non-partisan, collaborative effort to spark informed and constructive conversations among Coloradans about some of the biggest issues facing the state.

More than a thousand Coloradans have invested a great deal of time in community meetings to learn about the state's budget, education, health care and transportation systems and personnel challenges. Then, they considered policy options.

By Karen Auge and Carlos Illescas
The Denver Post

Slashing $375 million from Colorado's public schools, as Gov. John Hickenlooper has proposed, could cost teachers' jobs and shrink the paychecks of many who remain, and would mean nearly $500 less spent on each schoolchild.

Deep cuts to education were widely expected. Nevertheless, the actual numbers delivered by Hickenlooper Tuesday hit educators like a gut punch.

The Denver Post
Guest commentary
(Editor's note: This guest commentary is part of a point-counterpoint about Colorado's budget crisis. Companion commentary by Barry Poulson.)

By Wade Buchanan, Chris Watney and Carol Hedges

This year, Colorado's General Fund revenues will hit their lowest point in recent history, and the implications are dire for the state and its residents.

My name is Wade Buchanan and I am president of the Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization. I am speaking today in support of SB 09-228, to repeal the Arveschoug-Bird 6 percent formula and increase the legislature’s flexibility to appropriate General Fund revenues.

Colorado’s Fiscal Challenge
Presentation to the Colorado Long-term Fiscal Stability Commission

Click below for PDF of PowerPoint presentation

The Department of Higher Education receives funding from a variety of sources. These include state General Fund dollars, General Fund Exempt dollars, made available through Referendum C, Cash Funds, Cash Funds Exempt, which include tuition and fees spending authority, and federal funds.

The Colorado Department of Health Care and Policy Financing (HCPF) is responsible for administering the state???s Medicaid program and other federally subsidized health care programs for children, the disabled, elderly, low-income and uninsured Coloradoans.

The Department of Human Services has 11 budget areas: Child Welfare, Disability Services, Division of Youth Services, Mental Health & Alcohol/Drug Abuse, County Administration, Executive Director???s Office, Information Technology, Operations, Child Care, Adult Assistance and Self-Sufficiency.

Appropriations for the Department of Corrections pay for the costs of incarcerating primarily adult prisoners in Colorado.

Colorado uses appropriations for capital construction to construct, maintain or renovate buildings or roads. In addition, capital appropriations can be used to purchase land or equipment (in excess of $50,000), including information technology systems.